Golf-ball painting and partial-drying machine



May 28, 1929.

A. TURNER GOLF BALL PAINTING AND PARTIAL DRYING MACHINE Filed April 13,1928 INVEN TOR. lam/1am? TUBA/72. BY

,a -ITTORNEYJ' Patented, a, 28, 1929.

-- UNITED STATES-PATENT omen;

ALEXANDER TURNER, OF NEWARK, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO BURKE GOLF- COMPANY,

' OF NEWARK, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

' GOLF-BALL rem'rme inn unmet-name mcnnvn.

Application and April 1a, 1928. Serial No. 269,734.

The present invention relates to the painting of alls, particularly golfballs, it being the object of the invention to construct a new'and moreefficient form of mechanism for thinly and evenly coating the ball aftera dipping operation. The purposes and objects of the invention and theadvantages to be derived therefrom will be apparent from a full anddetailed description of the apparatus, it being necessary to statemerely, that the machine here shown coats the balls more quickly andevenly than previous forms of machines, the apparatus permitting theball to rotate during the operation, thereby insuring even distribution,of the paint over the entire surface of the ball.

The drawing and description thereof show the invention in its best knownapplication, it being understood that chan es and modifications may bemade within t e scope of the invention and within the substance of theclaims, changes and modifications being permissible within the scope ofthe invention as set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved drying apparatus, the upperportion of the device being illustrated in section; and

Fi re 2 1s a plan view of the rotor or cage for t e golf ball. i Theapparatus com rises a base or stand 1 on the 'u per end 0 which issecured the motor 2. n top-of the motor is secured a pan 3 whichsurrounds the rotor or cage in which the ball is rotated and which isrovided with a drain 4 for the recovery 0 the paint thrown from theball.

The upper end of the motor shaft supports a disk or table5 about whichare located a series of posts 6 which are preferably spaced at equaldistances apart about the disk and receive and retain the golf ball 7.The upper ends of the posts are provided with pivoted arms 8 which arefree to rotate upon their own axes, one end of each arm being longer andheavier than the other end so that as the cage or rotor is spun by themotor, the heavier ends of the arms occupy aposition outwardly of thecage, the shorter or lighter ends pro jecting over the ball andconfining it Within the cage, but not too close to prevent-it fromrotating within the cage. In practice,- the arms do not fit closely overthe top of the ball, a slight upward movement of the ball beingpermitted. At the center of the disk is a small pin 10 upon which theball rests when the rotor is stationary.

In the operation of the device, the arms 8 are moved to the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 2, and the ball, which has been dipped in thepaintand is still wet, is placed within the posts 6. ,The motor is thenstarted, the centrifugal force moving the arms to the position shown infull lines in Figure 2, in 5' which position the ball is held within therotor. ,As the speed of the motorincreases, the surplus paint will bethrown off the ball against the sides of the pan 3. At the'same time theball will rise slightly off the pin 10 and will rotate about its centerdue to the whirling force of the rotor. In this way the paint will beevenly distributed over the entire surface of the ball,'whereupon theball is removed and placed on racks for drying in i the regular orcustomary way.

What is claimed is 1. A ball painting or artial drying device comprisinga motor, a all support located on the axis of the motor, a plurality ofposts g I about the support and surrounding the ball, and pivotedretaining devices upon the osts, said retaining devices being movabl bycentrifugal force "over the ball.

'2. A ball painting or partial drying de- 35 vice eomprislng a motor, aball support located on the arms of the motor, a plurality of postsabout the support and surrounding the ball, and ivoted retaining devicesupon the posts, said retaining devices being movable by centrifugalforce over the'ball and permittin a limited upward movement of the ball0% the support, whereby the ball is free to rotate about its centerdurin rotation.

3. A ball painting or partial 5 comprising a ball support, means. torotate. the support at high speed, a cage about the ball, and retainingdevices in the cage, said rying device 5' retaining devices beingmovable by centrifugal force to a position over the ball, the regalforce to a position over the ball. taining devices permitting a limitedupward 4. A ball painting or partial drying device movement of the balloff its support, whereby 10 comprising a ball support, means to rotatethe ball is free to rotate under the influence of 5 the support at highspeed, a cage about the the centrifugal force.

ball, and retaining devices in the cage, said 1 retaining devices beingmovable by centrifu- ALEXANDER TURNER.

